Reference: Logos
Hastings
In classical Greek logos signifies both 'word' and 'reason,' but in the Septuagint and the NT it is used, with few exceptions, in the former sense only. When it is God's word that is spoken of, it denotes the declaration or revelation of the Divine will, and specifically the Christian gospel as the utterance of the Divine plan of salvation (e.g. Mt 13:19-23; Php 1:14). But in the Prologue to the Fourth Gospel (Joh 1:1 [3 times] 14, with which cf. 1Jo 1:1 [1Jo 5:7 of AV is spurious; see RVand Re 19:13) 'Logos' (English Version Word) is applied to Jesus Christ, and is used to set forth His peculiar glory as the only-begotten Son of God, who is also the Life and Light of men. It is with this Johannine Logos that we have now to deal, and in doing so it seems necessary to consider (1) the content of John's Logos doctrine; (2) its sources; (3) its place in the Fourth Gospel; (4) its theological significance.
1. Content.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
and considereth it not, the wicked one cometh, and catcheth away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the way-side. But he who received the seed in stony places, is he that heareth the word, and immediately receiveth it with joy. read more. Yet hath he not root in himself, and so endureth but for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straight-way he is offended. He that received the seed among the thorns, is he that heareth the word: and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed on the good ground, is he that heareth the word and considereth it: who also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth some an hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty.
In the beginning existed the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the beginning existed the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the beginning existed the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the beginning existed the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. read more. All things were made by him, and without him was not one single thing made that was made.
All things were made by him, and without him was not one single thing made that was made.
All things were made by him, and without him was not one single thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, but the darkness perceived it not.
And the light shineth in darkness, but the darkness perceived it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a testimony, read more. to testify of the light, that all thro' it might believe. He was not the light, but was sent to testify of the light. This was the true light, who lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
This was the true light, who lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him; yet the world knew him not.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him; yet the world knew him not.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him; yet the world knew him not. He came to his own, and his own received him not. read more. But as many as received him, to them gave he privilege to become the sons of God, to them that believe in his name: Who were born, not of blood, nor by the will of the flesh, nor by the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and tabernacled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth. John testified of him and cried, saying, This is he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is preferred before me, for he was before me. And out of his fulness have we all received, even grace upon grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth was by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
For no one hath gone up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, the Son of man, who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, read more. That whosoever believeth on him, may not perish, but have everlasting life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, may not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world, to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved thro' him. He that believeth on him, is not condemned; but he that believeth not, is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doth evil, hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that practiseth the truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God.
But Jesus said to them, Verily, verily I say unto you, unless ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. read more. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is the bread which came down from heaven; not as your fathers ate manna, and died: he that eateth of this bread, shall live for ever.
Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Do ye both know me, and know whence I am? And yet I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him; for I am from him, and he hath sent me.
Then spake Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Jesus answered and said to them, Tho' I testify of myself, yet my testimony is valid: for I know whence I came, and whither I go: but ye know not whence I came, or whither I go.
but I and the Father that sent me.
My Father, who gave them me, is greater than all; and none shall pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Jesus said with a loud voice, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me, seeth him that sent me. read more. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me, may not continue in darkness. If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I am not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word which I have spoken, that shall judge him at the last day. For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me commandment, what I should say, and how I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting; what therefore I speak to you, as the Father hath said to me, so I speak.
Jesus saith, I am the way; and the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: from henceforth ye have known him, and have seen him. read more. Philip saith to him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith to him, Have I been so long with you, and hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father: and how sayest thou, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not, that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I speak not of myself; and the Father that dwelleth in me, he doth the works. Believe me, because I am in the Father, and the Father in me; but if not, believe me for the sake of the works.
And now, Father, glorify thou me with thyself, with the glory which I had with thee, before the world was.
For I have given them the words which thou gavest me, and they have received them, and have known surely, that I came forth from thee, and they have believed that thou hast sent me.
Father, I will that these also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me; for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
But these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye may have life thro' his name.
And many of the brethren trusting in the Lord through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word without fear.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; read more. Yet emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above every name, That at the name of Jesus every knee might bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth: And every tongue might confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord in the glory of God the Father.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins: read more. Who is the image of the invisible God, the first begotten of every creature. For through him were created all things, that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible; whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist, And he is the head of his body the church; who is the beginning, the first-begotten from the dead, that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. For it pleased the Father, that all fulness should dwell in him: And by him to reconcile all things to himself (having made peace by him, through the blood of the cross) whether things on earth, or things in heaven.
For in him dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake of old to the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son; Whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom he also made the worlds: read more. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and sustaining all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high, Being made so much higher than the angels, as he hath by inheritance a more excellent name than they.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have beheld, and our hands have handled of the word of life:
For there are three that testify on earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood, and these three agree in one.
And he is clothed in a vesture dipt in blood, and his name is called, The Word of God.